Terms

Spring/Summer - Winter

Spring/Summer - Winter In modern calendars there are clear distinctions between Spring Summer Winter 21 March 21 June 21 December In pre-Christian cultures, especially in the North, spring often came much later than 21 March and there was no clear distinction between the beginning of Spring/Summer. A basic twofold set of distinctions this emerged between: Spring/Summer Winter Light Darkness Earth Heaven, Underworld Life Death Plant Growth Plant Growth Stops Snakes/ Animals Active Snakes/Animals Hibernate/Rest Beginning of work in fields End of work in fields Beginning of Ploughing End of Ploughing With the advent of Chrisstianity these aspects of the natural and agricultural cycles became associated with two central events which reverse the cycle of nature: Easter Christmas Vëlënokëto - Kölettä Death/Resurrection Rebirth They also became particularly linked with three saints who accordingly had at least two major feasts linked with them: Heaven (Struggle for New Light) Saint Michael 8 May - 8 November Earth (Struggle for New Life) Saint George 23 April - 10 November Julian 23 April - 25 December Gregorian 6 May - 23 November Gregorian Saint Yuri 23 April - 26 November Julian 6 May - 9 December Gregorian Intermediary (Judgement, Rewards, Gifts) Saint Nicholas 9 May - 6 December Dragon Thunderer Vala Indra Veles Perun, Thunderer Saint Nicholas Saint Elias earth, water, substance (Veles) against heaven, fire, spirit (Perun). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veles_(god)